Recipe Sifter

A poke-style orange creamsicle cake made with orange cake mix, Jell-O, and a fluffy vanilla pudding-whipped topping frosting. Tastes just like the frozen treat from the ice cream truck.

Browned pork chops simmer over curry-spiced rice with raisins and slivered almonds in tomato sauce. A one-skillet dinner with sweet, savory, and nutty flavors in every bite.

Scotch mock apple pie: a Depression-era trick that uses soda crackers, lemon juice, and warm spices to taste exactly like apple pie. No apples required.

A tangy kidney bean salad dressed in spiced non-fat yogurt with chili powder, cumin, and oregano. No cooking required. Serve over lettuce with cornbread for an easy Mexican-inspired lunch.

Crispy golden phyllo cups filled with a creamy smoked trout, horseradish and scallion mixture, topped with cool shredded cucumber. An elegant make-ahead appetizer that yields 48 bite-sized pieces.

Homemade butternut squash pasta dough made with roasted squash, hazelnut butter, and warm spices. No eggs needed. Shape it into any pasta you like and cook fresh.

Old-fashioned Southern crackling bread made with cornmeal, buttermilk, and crispy pork cracklings. Shaped into oblong cakes and baked golden, this is country cooking at its finest.

Baked 7 beans and barley with molasses, honey, tomato, and turmeric. A hearty vegan one-dish bake that swaps the bacon and white beans of traditional recipes for a chewy multi-bean blend.

Low calorie clam dip made with cottage cheese instead of cream cheese, canned clams, chives, and thyme. A lighter take on classic clam dip that's ready in 5 minutes.

Fresh Italian antipasto salad with marinated mushrooms and artichokes over crisp vegetables drizzled with balsamic herb dressing for a light, impressive no-cook meal.

Sweet refrigerator pickles ready in 24 hours, with crisp cucumbers, sliced onions, garlic, celery seed, and mustard seed in a sweet vinegar brine. No canning required, keeps two months chilled.

Cheesy artichoke squares with mozzarella, eggs, and bread crumbs baked golden and cut into 24 bite-sized pieces. A crowd-pleasing appetizer you can prep ahead.

Oat wheat bread for the bread machine. Half whole-wheat flour, rolled oats, and a touch of sugar make a nutty, hearty loaf with a tender crumb. Dump, push start, walk away.

Crispy Indian vegetable fritters (pakora) made with a spiced chickpea flour batter with cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne. Dip potatoes, cauliflower, and peppers, then fry until golden.

Homemade apricot butter with fresh apricots, orange juice, and orange zest cooked down to a thick, spreadable preserve. Properly water-bath canned for year-round pantry storage.

Kapuska with kielbasa and bacon simmered in beer with sauerkraut. A rustic Polish-German cabbage stew with smoky sausage and a pinch of sugar to balance the tang.